East Grinstead Businesses show true Christmas Spirit!

22 November 2018

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

The East Grinstead Christmas Lights were switched on by the Town Mayor on Saturday night.

The new lights display (a five year contract) has three different zones of High St, London Road and Railway Approach.

The Council run scheme hit a snag 2 weeks prior to the switch on when SSE issued a statement that their policy had changed and cross street decorations could no longer be powered from the top of the lamp post columns. Council staff took to the streets to beg the help of retailers to resolve this.

Cllr Adam Peacock Chairman of the Amenities and Tourism Committee which approved the scheme and the contract of the lights said “Despite having completed our permissions from SSE back in the summer we found ourselves unable to power the crossovers. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Derek Field Accountants, Knights Jewellers, Martells and Poundland who stepped in and agreed to allow us to connect to their electrics for the cross over displays, and the Railway Tavern who have helped power tree lights. Their generosity of spirit reflects the spirit of Christmas. Likewise I want to acknowledge the Council staff who have worked tirelessly on this to make it happen.”

The lights were switched on as part of the Big Reveal for the first time, while the shops revealed their window displays which had been hidden behind brown paper for days. The High Street was closed to traffic for entertainment and late night shopping, shops along London Road and all the way through to the High St had decorated their windows for the event.